Dispatchers and Sheriff’s Dept. Staffers Team Up to Help Out

Roger McGrath was hopeful. The 82-year-old Hiram resident saw an article in his local weekly paper about money that had been found. The article asked whoever might have lost the money to call the York County Sheriff’s office in Alfred.

Mr. McGrath had been collecting bottles and cans by the roadside all last year, in hopes of surprising his wife with a new refrigerator to replace their aging one. He had saved about $500, but had somehow lost the money in December. Although he had retraced his steps and checked with local businesses, he had no luck in finding it.

He drove to the Sheriff’s office and spoke with Sergeant Matt Nadeau. Mr. McGrath said he did not have the heart to tell his wife he had lost the money, and had his fingers crossed that the recovered cash was his fridge fund.  

Sanford Regional Communications Center dispatcher Cindy Bailey reviewed all relevant calls for service and noted the money mentioned in the article was (probably) significantly larger than five hundred dollars, and so not his. Mr. McGrath had tears in his eyes as he received the news.

Within minutes, staff members at both offices sprang into action. Ms. Bailey began a collection among the SRCC dispatchers, while Julie Edmonson and Mindy Badger pulled the Civil Process Division together for a collection at the Sheriff’s Department. Dispatcher Joleen Maynard connected with the Sanford Lowe’s store, and a conversation began about how to help the McGraths. Call’s Shop N Save in Cornish heard of Mr. McGrath’s situation, and quickly pledged money to help. 

On March 18, thanks in large part to these caring staffers at the Sanford dispatch center and York County Sheriff’s office, Lowe’s delivered the McGraths a brand-new refrigerator.